PTI chairman Imran Khan granted protective bail in three cases

F.P. Report

LAHORE: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman on Wednesday was granted protective bail in three cases involving the May 9 arson attacks and the killing of senior Supreme Court lawyer Abdul Razzaq Shar in Quetta.

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore on Tuesday had issued non-bailable arrest warrants for the former prime minister and six other party leaders in cases registered at the Model Town and Naseerabad police stations.

Earlier today, the PTI chief appeared before a Lahore ATC where he was granted protective bail till July 7 in both cases against surety bonds worth Rs100,000 each. The court also stopped the police from arresting Imran.

Separately, Lahore High Court Justice Ali Baqar Najafi approved Imran’s bail plea in the murder case of Advocate Shar who was gunned down by unidentified assailants near Quetta’s Alamo Chowk on Airport Road on June 6.

On June 6, a case was registered against Imran on the complaint of Shar’s son, Advocate Siraj Ahmed, in an abetment to murder case.

According to the complainant, he was “certain” about the involvement of the PTI chief and others from the PTI in his father’s murder because of this case.

During today’s hearing, Imran’s counsel Ishtiaq A Khan said his client couldn’t travel to Quetta owing to security concerns.

On the other hand, government counsel Ghulam Sarwar opposed the PTI chief’s request for protective bail. Later, the court accepted the PTI chief’s request and granted him protective bail in the case as of July 3.